Variable velocity traverse drive mechanism



y 1956 R. A. BURKLEY ETAL. 3,250,493

VARIABLE VELOCITY TRAVERSE DRIVE MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1964 INVENTORS. RALPH A. BUR/(LEV BY ARTHUR D. GOLLADAY ATTORNEY y 1966 R. A. BURKLEY ETAL 3,250,493

VARIABLE VELOCITY TRAVERSE DRIVE MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1964 INVENTORS'. RALPH A BUR/(LEV y ARTHUR 0. GOLLADA) ATTORNEY y 1966 R. A. BURKLEY ETAL 3,250,493

VARIABLE VELOCITY TRAVERSE DRIVE MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 8, 1964 INVENTORS- RALPH A. BURKLE) B ARTHUR D. GOLLADAY ATTORNEY y 10, 1966 R. A. BURKLEY ETAL 3,250,493

VARIABLE VELOCITY TRAVERSE DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Jan. 8, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MOTOR REVERSING f CLUTCH INVENTORS. RALPH A. BUR/(LEV BY ARTHUR 0. GOLLADA) ATTORNEY mandrel.

United States Patent 3,258,493 VARIABLE VELOCITY TRAVERSE DRIVE lflECHANISD/I Ralph A. Barkley, Euyahoga Falls, and Arthur D. Goliaday, North Canton, Ghio, assiguors to Goodyear Aer space Corporation, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 336,533 4 iairns. (Cl. 242-153) This invention relates to a variable speed traverse drive mechanism which is particularly adapted to control the speed traversing movement of a filament distribution head associated with a filament winding machine for wind ing a filament web onto a rotating mandrel form which has a diiferent radius of rotation at points spaced along the axis.

Heretofore it has been known that there are many and various types of filament Winding machines utilized to wind a filament web to form a laminate on forms of various shapes. Generally the filaments are wound onto a rotating mandrel by utilizing a filament distribution head which rides on traverse ways or guides and is activated by an arm with a slot. The slot engages a pin locked to a chain driven by a sprocket geared directly to the mandrel. The centerline of the chain and both sprockets are parallel to the centerline of the mandrel which means that the traverse velocity of the filament distribution head compared to mandrel rotation is unvarying except at the end dwell when the pin rotates around the sprocket. \Vhen wrapping mandrels of ogive, conical, or other shapes of varying contour other than cylindrical, an unvaiying rate of traversing movement of the distribution head is undesirable as no correction is made for the angle at which the web of filaments lays upon the mandrel in relation to the centerline of the Therefore, gaps result between webs, or unnecessary overlapping results which weakens the structure or provides non-uniform thickness of laminate wrapping.

It is the general of the invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difi'iculties of prior art practices by the provisions of a filament winding machine which varies the traverse speed of a filament distribution head in accordance with the surface shape of a mandrel to be Wrapped by utilizing a chain drive wherein the path of the chain conforms substantially to the surface of the mandrel.

A further object of the invention is to provide the unique filament winding machine which conforms substantially to the conventional machine, but which positions the chain drive mechanism to conform substantially to the surface of a mandrel to be wrapped in order to vary the traversing direction of a filament distribution head to provide a filament wrap which is uniform and tight regardless of the surface configuration of the mandrel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fila ment winding machine which insures a tight uniform wrapping of filaments onto a mandrel regardless of the shape of the mandrel, and which apparatus is simple, highly effective, durable, and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filament winding machine wherein the apparatus to control the traverse speed of a filament distirbution head can be quickly and easily changed to provide uniform and tight wrapping of filaments onto mandrels having outer surfaces of various shapes.

The aforesaid objects of the invention and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing in a mechanism to vary the traverse speed of movement of filament in a filament winding operation the combination of a mandrel having an irregular outer surface turned about its longitudinal axis, frame means mounting the mandrel for rotation about its longitudinal axis, drive means adapted to rotate the mandrel about its longitudinal axis, filament guide slidably mounted to the frame means for straight line movement in substantially parallel relation to the outer surface of the mandrel, an arm with a slot operatively attached to the filament guide, a plurality of sprockets opcrativcly mounted to said frame means, an endless chain means operatively positioned about the sprockets for longitudinal movement thereabout, the chain means as defined by the sprockets conforming substantially to the shape of the outer surface of the mandrel and mounted substantially in parallel relation thereto, linkage means operatively connected to said drive means and positioned to drive one of the sprockets in proportion to the speed of rotation of the mandrel, and a pin operativcly afiixed to the chain means and adapted to slidably engage the slot in the arm mounted to the filament guide so that the filament guide is moved in straight line relation to the mandrel according to the longitudinal speed of the chain means.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a filament winding machine which illustrates one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the traverse guide mechanism of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of the traverse guide mechanism taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention of which utilizes a different guide mechanism adapted to a different mandrel;

FIGURE 5 is a plan View of another embodiment of the invention utilizing a different guide mechanism to conform to the shape of another mandrel; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the invention utilizing a sliding guide mechanism which proivdes that the filament distribution head also follows the contour of the mandrel being wrapped.

While the principles of the invention are applicable to winding filament onto a rotating article having an outer surface of practically any shape, the invention is most often used to wrap fiaments onto rotating articles having outer surfaces turned about the longitudinal axis about which the article is rotated, and hence the invention has been so illustrated and will be so described.

With reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates generally a filament Winding machine comprising a base frame 2, a pair of mounting frames 3 and 4 rotatably mounting a mandrel 5, a guide supporting frame 5, and a drive means '7. In order to connect the drive means 7 to a shaft 8 mounting mandrel 5, a pulley linkage, indicated generally by numeral 9 is provided. The pulley linkage 9 connects to gearing (not shown) in mounting frame 3 to operatively rotate shaft 8 at the desired speed as governed by the speed of drive means 7 and the gearing (not shown) in mounting frame 3. Suitable bearing collars 10 and 11, respectively, may be provided on shaft 8 to insure proper positioning of mandrel 5 between mounting frames 3 and 4 A filament distribution head 12 is mounted for traverse sliding movement in a pair of grooves 13 and 14 of guide frame 6. A pair of sprockets l5 and 16 respectively, operatively mount an endless chain 17. The'chain 1'7 is operatively guided in a curved path essentially parallel to the surface of mandrel 5 by means of guide plates 18 and 19, respectively. The sprocket 15 is opcratively connected by shaft 20 through a pulley gear mechanism, indicated generally by numeral 21, to operatively connect to shaft 22 which is directly connected to shaft 8 mounting mandrel 5. Thus, it is seen that sprocket is driven in a direct proportional relationship to shaft 8 which directly indicates the speed of rotation of mandrel 5. The relationship of the drive to sprocket 15 and the chain 17 willbe more fully described hereinafter. Sufiice it to say that a pin 23 is operatively mounted to chain 17 and extends upwardly and through an elongated slot 24 in guide 12. Thus, as chain 17 is rotated around sprockets 15 and 16 the pin 23 moves guide 12 traversely in relation to mandrel 5 in accordance with the speed of movement of chain 17.

In order to complete the basic mechanism of the invention, a web of filaments 25 composed of a plurality of individual filaments 26 and 27 carried on spools 28 and 29, respectively, are provided. The filaments 26 and 27 pass through a bath 30 to place a desired resin thereon, and thence through guide holes 31 and 32,. respectively,

.on guide 12, and thence to mandrel .5 to be wrapped thereon.

With reference to FIGURE 2, a better illustration ofthe relationship between chain 17, sprockets 15 and 16, and guide plates 18 and 19 is illustrated. In particular, it should be noted that guide plates 18 and 19 are affixed to guide frame 6 by convenient means such as bolts 33. The invention contemplates that the upper surface of guide frame 6 may be formed with a plurality of holes to resemble a pegboard so that plates, such as guide plates 18 and 1?, may be readily positioned thereon to substantially any desired configuration. Further, sprocket rollers or other guide means besides plates 18 and 19 could be used to control the movement of chain 17. It should be noted that guide plates 18 and 19 in combination with sprockets 15 and 16 position chain 17 substantially to the exact outer surface configuration of mandrel 5, and in substantially parallel relation thereto as described above. Thus, with pin 23 operatively connected to chain 17 the speed of pin 23 in relation to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 5 is varied according to the surface configuration of mandrel '5. Further, this variable speed is obtained with no sacrifice of mechanical fixity or repeatability as the sprocket 15 is driven directly in accordance with the speed of rotation of mandrel 5 and the path of chain 17 is fixed by the relation of sprockets 15 and 16 and guide plates 18 and 19.

FIGURE 3 further illustrates the relationship between guide plates 18 and 19 and chain 17. It should be noted that spacer spools 34 are utilized around bolts 33 between guide frame 6 and spacer plates 18 and 19 to insure proper positioning of guide plates 18 and 19 to allow chain 17 to freely engage and slide therewith.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein a mandrel 35 is rotatably mounted to end support frames 36 and 37, respectively, by shaft 38. A motor 39 is operatively connected to a reduction gear box 40 to drive shaft 38. A chain 41 is operatively positioned about end sprockets 42 and 43 with a plurality of support idler gears 44 and a plurality of positioning sprocket gears 45 utilized to conform the chain 41 to substantially the surface configuration of mandrel 35 and position chain 41 in parallel relationship thereto. A support rail 46 may be utilized to further insure proper alignment of chain 41. Sprocket 43 is operatively driven through a linkage mechanism, indicated generally by numeral 47, Which is connected directly to shaft 38 so that the speed of chain 41 is directly proportional to the rotational speed of shaft 38.

A filament guide 48, adapted to receive a plurality of filaments 49, is operatively positioned for straight line traverse sliding movement on support rods 50 and 51, respectively. Support rods 50 and 51 are operatively mounted in slots 52 and 53, respectively, in support brackets 36 and 37. Obviously, support rods 50 and 51 can be adjustably positioned in slots 52 and 53 to change the straight line sliding relationship traversing filament a pin 56 operatively carried by chain 41. Thus, the filament guide 48 is moved in accordance to the movement of chain 41 as described above with reference to FIG- URES l and 2. Again, the traverse speed of the filament guide 48 is varied according to the surface configuration of mandrel 35 and further this variation is obtained with no sacrifice of mechanical fixabi'lity or repeatability.

FIGURE 5 illustrates another modification of the invention which utilizes essentially the same apparatus as illustrated in FIGURE 4 except that a mandrel 60 having an ogive shape is utilized. In this modification a chain 61 is positioned around supporting sprockets 62 and 63, respectively, and formed to a shape substantially similar to the outer surface of mandrel 61 by means of a plurality of idler gears 65. Actually, guide forming plates or rail supports or other similar means could be utilized to properly position chain 61. Also, in this modification, the support rods 50a and 51a mounting the filament guide 48a for longitudinal sliding movement are positioned in slots 52a and 53a of mounting frames 316a and 37a to position the support bars 50a and 51a in a substantially parallel relationship to the outer surface of the mandrel 60 to further facilitate the filament wrapping action. Thus, it is seen that not only the speed of the filament guide 48a can be varied, but also the traverse movement thereof can be varied to conform to the surface of the mandrel being wrapped to further increase the tightness, uniformity, and excellence of the filaments being wrapped on the mandrel.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the invention wherein a filament 70 is passed from a filament roll 71 and thence through a filament distribution head 72 onto a mandrel 73. In this embodiment it was desired to have the filament distribution head 72 closc ly follow the contour of the mandrel 73 in the longitudinal direction as the filament 70 was wound thereon so as to eliminate any tendency for the filament 70 to slip because of an excessive distance between the filament distribution head 72 and the mandrel 73. It is particularly desirable to have the filament distribution head in close proximity'to the mandrel during the winding operation where winding on an extremely irregular surface is being performed.

In order to achieve the continuous adjacent positioning of the distribution head 72, it is slid-ably mounted to a traverse carriage 74 by means of rails 75 slidably passing through receiving guides 76. The carriage 74 is slidably traversely on guide rails 77. Thus, the filament distribution head 72 is slidable in directions parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 73. A chain 78 has only one side contoured to the outer surface of the mandrel 73 by means of guides 79, and sprockets 80. The chain 78 is further positioned by large sprockets 81, one of which is properly geared to provide the necessary drive in accordance with the rotation of the mandrel 73. A plate 82 operatively afiixed to the end of the rails 75 contains a socket 83. The socket 83 slidably receives a guide pin 84 operatively aifixed to the guide chain 78. The structural relationship of the guide pin 84 to the plate 82 provides movement of the filament distribution head 72 perpendicular and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 73 according to the movement of the chain 78.

Thus, in operation the chain 78 is generally moved intermittently back and forth so that guide pin 84 is moved intermittently from one extreme to the other through the contoured guides and sprockets 79 and thereby not only providing traverse speed variations to the filament distribution heads 72 but maintaining the filament distribution head 72 in adjacent proximity to the outer surface of the mandrel 73. The intermittent movement of the chain 78 is achieved by actuation of a standard reversing clutch 35 by a switch 85a, manually or automatically acting to reverse the drive of motor 86 only for the drive to sprocket 81, this being schematically indicated in FIG. 6. The intermittent movement of the chain 78 is achieved by use of a standard reversing switch 85 acting through motor 86, which is adapted to drive sprocket 81, this being schematically indicated in FIG. 6. The intermittent reversing drive of chain 78 is necessary to move filament distribution head 72 back and forth in adjacent relationship to the mandrel 73. Thus, the Wrapping efifectiveness is increased not only by the traverse speed variations to the filament distribution head 72, but by the continuously adjacent proximity of the filament distribution head 72 in relation to the mandrel 73.

It is to be particularly understood that the invention contemplates that the sprockets, idler gears, or guide plates defining the position of the chain can be positioned in substantially any desired relationship to move the traverse filament guide in direct proportion to the speed of rotation of the mandrel at the desired speed in relation to the mandrel to effect the best possible wrap of filament web thereon. Obviously, the traverse speed of the filament guide could be varied by use of a cam or tape controlled hydraulic or electrical system, but this could not have complete fixity or controlling indexing and pattern repeatability as is available with the fixed chain apparatus described herein. Thus, there can be no sacrifice of mechanical fixity or repeatability.

While in accordance with the patent statutes one best known embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus the combination of a mandrel, having an irregularly shaped longitudinal peripheral surface,

frame means rotatably mounting said mandrel on its longitudinal axis,

a filament guide, 7

support means operat-ively mounting said filament guide for traversing movement in similar relation to the longitudinal peripheral surface of said mandrel,

an endless chain,

sprockets around which said chain moves, said sprockets being so positioned that as said chain moves therearound, a portion of said chain always forms a substantially similar shape to the shape of the longitudinal peripheral surface of said mandrel, the portion of said chain being in substantially parallel relation thereto,

means operatively connecting said portion of said chain to said filament guide, and

means to drive said chain.

2. In combination,

a mandrel having an irregular longitudinal peripheral surface turned about its longitudinal axis,

frame means mounting the mandrel for rotation about its longitudinal axis,

a filament distribution head mounted to said frame for movement parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel,

a chain means, a portion of said chain means having a shape conforming substantially to the shape of the longitudinal peripheral surface of said mandrel, and

means operatively connecting said portion of said chain means to said filament distribution head so that said filament distribution head is moved traversely and in close proximity to the peripheral surface of said mandrel according to the movement of said chain means.

3. In combination,

.a mandrel, having an irregularly shaped longitudinal peripheral surface,

frame means rotatably mounting said mandrel on its longitudinal axis,

means to rotate said mandrel,

a filament distribution head,

support means operatively mounting said filament distribution head for movement in substantially parallel and perpendicular relationship to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel,

a chain,

sprockets around which said chain moves, a portion of said chain being formed by said sprockets to a shape substantially conforming to the longitudinal peripheral surface of said mandrel and being in substantially parallel relation thereto,

means operatively connecting a portion of said chain to said filament distribution head so that said filament distribution head moves longitudinally relative in close proximity to the periphery of the mandrel as the chain is moved, and

means to drive the chain in proportion to the speed of rotation of the mandrel.

4. In combination,

a mandrel having an irregular longitudinal peripheral surface,

frame means mounting the mandrel for rotation about its longitudinal axis,

a filament distribution head mounted to said frame for movement relative 'to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel,

a, chain means, a portion of said chain means having a'shape substantially similar to the longitudinal peripheral surface of the mandrel, and

means operatively connecting the said portion of said chain means to said filament distribution head so that said filament distribution head is moved traversely relative to the longitudinal peripheral surface of said mandrel according to the movement of said chain means.

References tilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,935,585 11/1933 Tornblom 24215S 2,135,072 11/1938 Forster 242l58 2,328,344 8/1943 Jones 24243 X 2,340,436 2/ 1944 Stone et al. 242-15 8 2,798,531 7/ 1957 Jackson. 2,910,251 10/1959 Prosen et al. 3,073,537 1/ 1963 Mackie 242-18 FOREIGN PATENTS 280,379 11/ 1914 Germany. 865,994 4/ 1961 Great Britain.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS THE COMBINATION OF A MANDREL, HAVING AN IRREGULARLY SHAPED LONGITUDINAL PERIPHERY SURFACE, FRAME MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID MANDREL ON ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, A FILAMENT GUIDE, SUPPORT MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTING SAID FILAMENT GUIDE FOR TRANSVERSING MOVEMENT IN SIMILAR RELATION TO THE LONGITUDINAL PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID MANDREL, AN ENDLESS CHAIN, SPROCKETS AROUND WHICH SAID CHAIN MOVES, SAID SPROCKETS BEING SO POSITIONED THAT AS SAID CHAIN MOVES THEREAROUND, A PORTION OF SAID CHAIN ALWAYS FORMS A SUB- 